Fan mounting arrangement

ABSTRACT

A mounting arrangement for a fan assembly having a fan mounting plate. The mounting plate is adapted to be received in a structural retainer at a lower end thereof and is provided with a notch in the upper edge thereof which is adapted to engage a U-shaped bracket in the wall to which the assembly is being attached. Attachment of the mounting plate to the wall is achieved by use of a retaining clip comprising three spaced parallel fingers. The middle finger of the clip is received within the U-shaped bracket and the two other fingers are adapted to engage the plate on opposite sides of the notch. When the clip is inserted into engagement, the thickness of the fingers is such that the clip is frictionally retained in the described position to thereby hold the plate in operable engagement with the wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to air conditioner units, andmore specifically to an arrangement for mounting an evaporator fanassembly in an air conditioner unit of the type suitable for mounting onthe roof of a vehicle, such as a bus.

It is well known to mount air conditioner units on the roof of a vehiclesuch as a bus. Typically, such units contain the heat exchangers and theevaporator and condenser fans and various air supply passageways forallowing return air from the interior of a bus to be passed through theevaporator assemblies and thence returned to the bus in a cooled anddehumidified condition. Likewise, passageways are provided for thecondenser air flow for rejection of heat from the unit.

It is always difficult when servicing a unit such as this type which ismounted on the top of a vehicle. Accordingly, it is considered desirableto design such units in a manner which facilitates easy assembly andremoval of components as required for replacement and/or routinemaintenance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditionerunit which includes an evaporator air delivery fan assembly which may beattached to the unit without use of conventional nut and bolt typefastening means.

It is a further object of the invention to attach an evaporator airdelivery assembly to a partition wall within a roof mounted airconditioner unit through the use of molded in retaining means and afriction fit mounting clip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mounting arrangement is provided for a fan having an outlet opening.The mounting arrangement comprises a fan mounting plate having an upperand a lower edge which is attached to the fan and which has an openingtherein in registry with the outlet of the fan. The fan mounting plateis adapted to be attached to a wall having an opening therein adapted toreceive a flow of air therethrough from the fan assembly. The wall isadapted to cooperate with one side of the mounting plate with theopening in the plate and the opening in the wall in sealed fluid flowrelation with one another. Structural retaining means are provided,spaced from the wall a distance substantially equal to the thickness ofthe mounting plate and defining a space therebetween for receiving thelower edge of the mounting plate. A vertically extending notch isprovided in the upper edge of the mounting plate. A substantiallyvertically oriented U-shaped bracket is structurally affixed to the walland located such that it extends into the notch in the plate, when theplate is placed into the receiving space and is in confronting contactwith the wall. A retaining clip is provided which includes three spacedparallel fingers. The middle finger of the clip is adapted to bereceived within the U-shaped bracket and the two other fingers adaptedto engage the other side of the mounting plate on opposite sides of thenotch when the clip is inserted into engagement therewith. The thicknessof the fingers is such that the clip is frictionally retained in thedescribed position to thereby hold the plate in operable engagement withthe wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention may be better understood and its numerous objects andadvantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bus having an air conditioner unitaccording to the present invention mounted on the roof thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air conditioner unit shown in FIG. 1with the cover thereof opened to show the interior thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air conditioner unit shown in FIG. 1with the upper cover and some of the components partially broken awayand/or removed in order to facilitate illustration of other features;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the air conditioner unit of FIG. 1 with theupper cover removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 6--6 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the unit as taken along the line8--8 of FIG. 5 illustrating the unit mounted on a bus roof top;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a condenser heat exchange coil;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the coil of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the coil of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the mounting of an evaporator fanassembly taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an evaporator air delivery assembly;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the evaporator air assembly attachmentclip;

FIG. 15 is a broken away perspective view of the partition upon whichthe evaporator air delivery fans are mounted; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing engagement of the clip of FIG. 14with an evaporator fan assembly and the mating hardware.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, there isshown a vehicle 10, such as a transit bus, having a front 12, back 14,and first and second sides, 16 and 18, respectively. The bus has a roof20 and an interior passenger compartment 21 best shown in FIG. 8.

The bus 10 includes an air conditioning system 22, which is made up of asingle air conditioner unit 24 and a power pack 23. The power pack 23,which is shown only diagramatically in FIG. 1 is of conventional designand is typically mounted within the bus 10, adjacent to one of the bussides. As is well understood in the art, the power pack 23 includes arefrigerant compressor, and a prime mover such as an internal combustionengine.

The air conditioner unit 24 is mounted on the roof 20 of the bus by anysuitable means (not shown). As will be described in detail below, theair conditioner unit contains the evaporator and condenser coils for theair conditioning system, the blowers or fans for causing circulation ofair across these coils, the air passageways for such air flow, as wellas other standard components of a vapor compression air conditioningsystem.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein two embodiments of the airconditioning unit 24 are shown, it will be noted that the unit comprisesa base section 28 and a cover 30. The cover 30 is hinged at one endthereof by suitable hardware (not shown) and is likewise provided withsuitable conventional latching hardware (not shown) at the other endthereof to facilitate holding the cover in its closed position asillustrated in FIG. 1 during normal operation of the system. Suitabledevices, such as gas struts 26 are provided to hold the cover in theopen position when desired.

As will be seen, the base 28 and the cover 30 are molded from a plasticresin, preferably a fiberglass reinforced thermosetting resin, in asingle piece unit and are adapted to cooperate with one another when inthe closed position to provide structural support of all components inthe unit and to define the condenser air flow path and the evaporatorair flow path of the unit. The location of the various major componentswill first be described and then the relationship of these components tothe structural elements of the base 28 and the cover 30, and the airflow paths will be described in detail. As best show in FIGS. 2, 3 and5, the base 28 is provided with a centrally located elongated opening32. This opening 32 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 34 of thebase 28. As is seen in the various drawing figures, this axis extendsbetween the front and back of the vehicle and is substantially parallelto the first and second sides 16 and 18 of the bus 10.

Located adjacent to each of the sides 36 and 38 of the elongated opening32 is an elongated evaporator coil 40. Since the unit is symmetricalabout the longitudinal axis 34, the same reference numerals will beapplied to the various components of the system on each side of theaxis. Located outboard from the evaporator coils 40 are three evaporatorair delivery means 42. Each of the evaporator air delivery means 42comprises a blower assembly having two blowers 44 driven by anintermediately disposed electric motor 46. Each of the evaporator airdelivery means 42 is attached to a partition 48 which forms an integralpart of the base 28. Both the partition and the attachment of theevaporator air delivery assemblies 42 thereto will be described in moredetail below.

Located outboard from the partitions 48 are the condenser air deliveryfans 50. The condenser air delivery fans 50 comprise two groups of threeaxial flow fans arranged to effect a vertical air flow relative to theunit 24. Two embodiments are illustrated for supporting the condenserair delivery fans 50 in their desired location. With reference to FIG.2, it will be noted that the condenser air delivery fans 50 are mountedin a spaced relationship within the base 28. With reference to FIG. 3,the condenser air delivery fans 50 are mounted directly to the cover 30.Regardless of the method of mounting, the fans are in the same locationwhen the cover 30 is closed and the unit is in operation. Each of thesearrangements will be described in more detail below.

Finally, located outboard from the condenser air delivery fans 50 andadjacent to the sides 52 and 54 of the base 28, are the condenser heatexchange coils 56. It should be noted that the condenser coils 56 extendlongitudinally from one end 58 of the base in an inclined orientation tothe other end 60 of the base wherein they undergo a double bend totransition to a substantially vertical orientation and a further bend 64to define a U-shaped end thereto. The U-shaped end which provides threesurfaces of the condenser surrounding a region 66 in which one of thecondenser air delivery fans 50 is located.

Looking now primarily at FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and with secondary referenceto FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the air flow paths through the air conditionerunit 24 will be described. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional area ofthe unit 28 mounted on the roof 20 of a bus 10. It should be appreciatedthat this showing is simplified and is meant only to facilitate thedescription of the air flow paths. First, the return flow from thepassenger compartment 68, as illustrated by arrows 70, is through alongitudinal opening 72 in the roof of the bus which is configured tocommunicate with the elongated opening 32 in the base 28 of the airconditioner unit. A grill or louvers 74 or the like typically will beprovided in the opening 72.

Air flowing from the interior of the bus is caused to flow by action ofthe evaporator air delivery fans 42 through the openings 72 and 32 andinto an elongated plenum 76, which is defined on its upper side by thecover 30 and on its left and right sides by the faces 80 of theevaporator coils 40. Return air drawn in to the plenum 76 is caused topass through the two evaporator coils 40 wherein it is cooled anddehumidified. Upon passing from the opposite faces 82 of the evaporatorcoils, the cooled and dehumidified air passes to another plenum 86,which is defined by the upstanding partitions 48, the cover 30 and thebottom 88 of the base 28.

Looking now at FIG. 13, it will be noted that each of the evaporator airdelivery assemblies includes a fan mounting plate 90 having a pair ofopenings therein 92 which cooperate with the discharge openings 94 ofeach of the individual fans 44. As will be described in more detailhereinbelow, each of the outlets 92 is designed to cooperate with matingopenings 98 provided in the partitions 48.

Each of the openings 98 communicates with a supply air passageway 100each of which is defined by a partition wall section 114 formedintegrally into the molded base 28. As is evident from several of thedrawing views, each of these passageways 100 extends from the mountingof the evaporator air delivery assembly 42 outwardly towards the outeredges of the unit wherein openings 101 are provided in the bottom 88 ofthe base 28 which cooperate with openings 103 in the roof 20 of the busto thereby deliver cooled, dehumidified air to the passenger compartment21.

Looking now to the condenser air flow path. First, the alternativemounting arrangements for the condenser air delivery fans 50 will bedescribed. As mentioned hereinabove, the condenser air delivery fans areconventional axial flow fans of the type mounted within a shroudassembly 103 and each is driven by an individual motor 104. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, each of the condenser fanassemblies 50 is mounted directly in to an opening 106 provided in thecover 30. A conventional grill or the like 108 is provided to cover theupper surface thereof for aesthetic and safety purposes. Electricalsupply wires for each of the motors 104 are not shown in the drawingfigures but are adapted to pass from a suitable electrical supply androuted appropriately along the inside of the unit cover 30.

Another embodiment of the mounting of the condenser air delivery fans 50is shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, wherein the condenser fans, substantiallyas described above in connection with the previous embodiment, aresupported by pedestal like supports 110, which may be molded directlyinto the base 28. With such an arrangement, the grill assemblies 108 areattached to the cover 30 to cover the openings 106 therein and aredesigned to mate with the six condenser air delivery fans 50 when thecover is moved to its closed position.

Regardless of the arrangement of supporting the condenser air deliveryfans, the air flow path for condenser air is the same and is shown inFIGS. 6, 7 and 8.

As mentioned above, the preferred direction of air flow of the condenserair delivery fans 50 is vertically upwardly as viewed in the drawingfigures. As a result, the entire area outside of the partitions 28, thebottom 88 of the base 28 and the upper portion of the cover 30 definesthe condenser air flow plenum 112. It should be appreciated withreference to the drawing figures that this region includes the areaoverlying the partitions 114 which define the supply air passageways100.

As a result of the above described arrangement, when the condenser fansare operating a region of low pressure is established within the plenum112 and air flow is caused to move into that region through the variousopenings 116 provided in the outer periphery of the cover 30. Asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, this air flow is directly across thecondenser coils 56. It should be appreciated that the condenser fans 50located within the regions 66 defined by the U-shaped bends in thecondenser coils 56 causes air flow to be drawn across three linearsections portion of the condenser coil thereby resulting in an extremelyhigh value of heat transfer occurring in these regions of the unit.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the partitions 48 are interconnected atthe right-hand end, as viewed in these drawing figures, by an endpartition 118. At the left-hand end, the partitions 48 intersect withadditional partition sections 120 which serve to additionally define theevaporator fan plenums 86 and the condenser fan plenums 112.

It will be appreciated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 that there isintegrally formed with the inner surface 122 of the cover 30 a series ofupstanding surfaces, generally 124, which are adapted to mate with theupper ends of the various partition sections 48, 118 and 120 toeffectively seal these regions to enhance the efficiency of air flowtherethrough. Also, as shown generally by reference numeral 128, gasketor sealing material may be provided on the upper edges of the variouspartitions in order to further enhance the desired seal.

Referring in detail to the various drawing figures, and in particularFIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the details of the condenser heat exchanger coil 56are shown. The coil 56 is of the plate fin and tube type comprising aplurality of refrigerant tubes which may comprise two or more rowsextending in a serpentine fashion therethrough and having plate typeheat exchange fins installed thereon. As is shown in, among other viewsFIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8, the condenser coil 56 comprises a major elongatedsection 130 which is inclined from the vertical. As is best seen inFIGS. 4, 9 and 11, the coil makes a transition from the inclined section130 through a double bend 62 to a vertically extending section 132. By adouble bend it is meant that the heat exchange coil undergoes a bend intwo different planes. Specifically, the heat exchange coil makes a 90degree bend from the major elongated section 130 to the shorter verticalsection 132 while at the same time the elongated section 130 is bentfrom the inclined orientation to the vertical orientation. Further, asmentioned hereinabove, the vertical section 132 then makes a furtherturn, as at 64, to define the U-shaped section defining the region 66previously described.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the condenser heatexchange coil 56 allows a combination of an aesthetically pleasingpackage wherein the sides of the unit are inclined and the height of theunit is minimized while at the same time allowing an increased length ofcondenser heat exchange coil to thereby provide optimum performance.

Looking now at FIGS. 12 through 16, the details of attachment of theevaporator air delivery assembly 42 to the partition 48 will bedescribed. As best shown in FIG. 13 and as described hereinabove, eachevaporator air delivery assembly 42 includes two blowers or fans 44driven by an intermediately disposed electric motor 46. The blowers andmotor 44, 46 are carried by an evaporator air delivery assembly mountingplate 90. The mounting plate is provided with a vertically extendingnotch 136 formed in the upper edge 138 thereof.

Looking now at FIG. 15, an upstanding protrusion 140 is integrallymolded into the bottom 88 of the base. The upstanding protrusion 140 isspaced from the partition wall 48 a distance substantially equal to thethickness of the mounting plate 90 and defines a space 142 between theprotrusion 140 and the wall 48. Attached to the partition wall 48 at alocation substantially directly above the protrusion 140 is a verticallyoriented U-shaped bracket 144. The bracket 144 may be formed from sheetmetal and attached to the partition wall 48 permanently by conventionalfastening means.

Installation of the evaporator fan delivery assembly 42 to the partition48 is achieved by placing the lower edge 146 of the mounting plate 90into the space 142 between the protrusion 140 and the partition wall 48with the lower edge 146 resting on the bottom 88 of the base. The plateis then moved in to confronting sealing engagement with the partitionwall 48 with the U-shaped bracket 144 extending into the notch 136. Asso positioned the openings 92 in the mounting plate 90 are in fluid flowcommunication with the openings 98 in the partition wall 48. Attachmentof the assembly is then completed by use of a retaining clip 148 asillustrated in detail in FIG. 14. The clip 148 is formed preferably froma sheet metal stamping and comprises three spaced parallel fingers 150.These fingers extend from a U-shaped channel section 152 whichstructurally interconnects the three fingers and provides a handle typeconfiguration to facilitate easy manual insertion of the clip.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 16, the clip is adapted such that the middlefinger 150 is received within the U-shaped bracket and the two otherfingers 150 are adapted to engage the side of the mounting plate 90which is not in engagement with the partition 48. The size of theU-shaped bracket and the thickness of the fingers 150 are such that thefingers are frictionally retained within the U-shaped bracket 144 and inretaining relationship with the mounting plate 90 to thereby hold themounting plate in the desired operable engagement with the partitionwall 48. Removal of an evaporator fan assembly 42 or replacement formaintenance reasons, accordingly, may be readily carried out by simplywithdrawing the retaining clip 148, removing the unit 42 and replacingit with an operable assembly 42, which may in turn be easily attached inthe manner described.

It will thus be appreciated that there has been disclosed a new andimproved roof mounted air conditioner unit 24 suitable for mounting onthe roof of a vehicle such as a bus. The unit comprises a compactefficient arrangement of the heat exchange coils, air deliverypassageways, and fans and makes use of an extremely compact yet largesurface area condenser coil arrangement,. The unit utilizes anevaporator fan mounting arrangement which greatly simplifies the fanmounting and reduces the labor required in replacing such a fanassembly. The air conditioner further comprises a clam shell typearrangement wherein the upper cover is fabricated from a single moldedpiece, and, the supporting base is also a single piece in which thecoils, air handling fans and air supply passages are all molded and/orsupported therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting arrangement for a fan having an outletopening comprising:a fan mounting plate attached to the fan and havingan opening therein in registry with the outlet of the fan, said platehaving an upper and a lower edge; a wall having an opening thereinadapted to receive a flow of air therethrough, said wall being adaptedto cooperate with one side of said mounting plate with said opening insaid plate and said opening in said wall in sealed fluid flow relationwith one another; structural retaining means spaced from said wall adistance substantially equal to the thickness of said mounting plate anddefining a space therebetween for receiving and retaining said loweredge of said mounting plate therein; a vertically extending notch in theupper edge of said mounting plate; a U shaped bracket structurallyaffixed to said wall and located such that it extends into said notch insaid plate; a retaining clip comprising three spaced parallel fingers,the middle finger of said clip being adapted to be received within saidU shaped bracket, and the two other fingers being adapted to engage theother side of said plate on opposite sides of said notch when said clipis inserted into engagement therewith, the thickness of said fingersbeing such that the clip is frictionally retained in the describedposition to thereby hold said plate in operable engagement with saidwall.
 2. The fan mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the fan has twospaced outlets, and, wherein said mounting plate has two spaced openingstherein adapted to be installed in registry with said two fanoutlets;said vertically extending notch being located substantiallyequidistant between said spaced openings.
 3. The fan mountingarrangement of claim 1 wherein said wall is oriented substantiallyvertically.
 4. The fan mounting arrangement of claim 3 wherein and saidretaining clip is oriented substantially vertically.
 5. The fan mountingarrangement of claim 1 wherein said retaining clip further comprises achannel section interconnecting one end of each of said three spacedparallel fingers.